Zipper slide

ABSTRACT

A zipper slide is adapted to a zipper on a shoe for simultaneously combining/separating two zipper tapes of the zipper and fastening/loosing two laces of the shoe. The zipper slide includes a slide body, a pull tab, a bottom cover and a gripping block. The slide body has two guiding grooves providing for the two zipper tapes of the zipper, respectively. The pull tab is coupled to the slide body. The bottom cover is assembled to a bottom portion of the slide body. Two tracks are defined between the bottom cover and the slide body. A space is positioned between the two tracks. A gripping block is forward/backward movably arranged in the space. The gripping block has two gripping surfaces at two sides thereof. The two gripping surfaces are respectively extended into the two tracks thereby to grip the laces passed through in the tracks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a zipper slide and, more particularly to a zipper slide that is adapted to a zipper on a shoe for simultaneously combining/separating two zipper tapes of the zipper and fastening/loosing two laces of the shoe.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, the conventional sports shoes provide laces or zipper tapes for controlling elasticity of the shoe wore. But in the market, it appears a kind of sports shoe providing laces and zipper tapes together, and the laces and the zipper tapes are assembled on inner and outer portions of the sports shoe, respectively. Due to this kind of sports shoe, it can combine the zipper tapes after the laces are tied for a good-looking outer portion of the shoe. But in use, it must consume more time to combine/separate the zipper tapes and fasten/loose the laces of the shoe, respectively. Thus it is extremely inconvenient in the shoe wore on or taken off.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a zipper slide adapted to a zipper on a shoe for simultaneously combining/separating two zipper tapes of the zipper and fastening/loosing two laces of the shoe. Furthermore, the present invention has been accomplished to eliminate the aforesaid problem.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a zipper slide. The zipper slide includes a slide body, a pull tab, a bottom cover and a gripping block. The slide body has two guiding grooves providing for the two zipper tapes of the zipper, respectively. The pull tab is coupled to the slide body. The bottom cover is assembled to a bottom portion of the slide body. Two tracks are defined between the bottom cover and the slide body. A space is positioned between the two tracks. A gripping block is forward/backward movably arranged in the space. The gripping block has two gripping surfaces at two sides thereof. The two gripping surfaces are respectively extended into the two tracks thereby to grip the laces passed through in the tracks.

To provide a further understanding of the invention, the following detailed description illustrates embodiments and examples of the invention, this detailed description being provided only for illustration of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings included herein provide a further understanding of the invention. A brief introduction of the drawings is as follows:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a zipper slide of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the zipper slide of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the zipper slide of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the zipper slide of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the zipper slide of the present invention in use;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the zipper slide of the present invention in use; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the zipper slide of the present invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Wherever possible in the following description, like reference numerals will refer to like elements and parts unless otherwise illustrated.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a zipper slide adapted to a zipper 80 on a shoe in accordance with the present invention includes a slide body 10, a spring plate 20, a connecting element 30, a pull tab 40, a hooking means 50, a bottom cover 60 and a gripping block 70 for simultaneously combining/separating two zipper tapes of a zipper 80 and fastening/loosing two laces 90 of a shoe.

The slide body 10 is made of a metallic or plastic material. The slide body 10 has two guiding grooves 11 and a baffle 12 positioned between the two guiding grooves 11 for separating the two guiding grooves 11. The two guiding grooves 11 provides for mating the two zipper tapes of the zipper 80 (shown in FIG. 6), respectively. The slide body 10 has an accommodated space 13 for accommodating the spring plate 20 and a through hole (not shown) for accommodating a retaining portion 22 of the spring plate 20. The slide body 10 has a pair of pivotal seats 15 projected from its top portion for easily pivotally connecting the connecting element 30 and the pull tab 40.

The pull tab 40 is made of a metallic material with an elasticity. The pull tab 40 has a fulcrum 21 at its one end. The retaining portion 22 is formed on another end of the spring plate 20. The fulcrum 21 of the spring plate 20 is accommodated in the accommodated space 13 of the slide body 10. The retaining portion 22 of the spring plate 20 is accommodated in the through hole (not shown) of the slide body 10. The retaining portion 22 is extended into the guiding grooves 11 of the slide body 10 so as to engage with zipper teeth of the zipper 80.

The connecting element 30 is made of a metallic or plastic material. The connecting element 30 has a pivotal shaft 31 at its one end. The pivotal shaft 31 is pivotally connected to the pair of pivotal seats 15 of the top portion of the slide body 10, so that the connecting element 30 can be mounted on the slide body 10 by the pivotally connecting manner. The connecting element 30 of the pivotal shaft abuts against the inner edge of the spring plate 20. Therefore, when the connecting element 30 is pulled upwardly, the retaining portion 22 of the spring plate 20 is drawn to separating the zipper 80 arranged in the guiding grooves 11. The connecting element 30 has a first pin hole 32 at another end for connecting the pull tab 40.

The pull tab 40 is made of a metallic or plastic material. The pull tab 40 has a top surface forming a larger area for providing words, patterns or trademarks thereon. The pull tab 40 has a second pin hole 41 at its one end to be in correspondence with the first pin hole 32 of the connecting element 30. Further, a pin 33 passes through the first pin hole 32 and the second pin hole 41, so that the pull tab 40 is pivotally connected to an end portion of the connecting element 30 by the pin 33. The pull tab 40 is connected to the slide body 10 through the connecting element 30.

The hooking means 50 is defined between the slide body 10 and the pull tab 40 for hooking the pull tab 40 on the slide body 10. The hooking means 50 includes a hooking block 51 projected from an edge of one end of the slide body 10 and a hooking hole 52 formed on one end of the pull tab 40. When the pull tab 40 is in resting, it can be covered on the spring plate 20 and the connecting element 30. Further, the hooking block 51 and the hooking hole 52 can be hooked together, so that a free end of the pull tab 40 can be hooked on the slide body 10, and the pull tab 40 can be covered on the spring plate 20 and the connecting element 30.

The retaining portion 22 of the spring plate 20 is extended into the guiding grooves 11 of the slide body 10 and engage with the zipper teeth of the zipper 80, hence the zipper slide can be limit to move for achieving a fixing function. When the pull tab 40 is not pulled to move, it can be formed as a self-locking zipper slide in a fixing status. When the pull tab 40 is pulled to move, it can draw the pivotal shaft 31 of the connecting element 30 to enable the spring plate 20 to move upwardly. Further, the retaining portion 22 of the spring plate 20 is separated from the zipper teeth of the zipper 80 in the guiding grooves 11, and the zipper slide can be smoothly moved on the zipper 80 for combining or separating the two zipper tapes of the zipper 80.

When the pull tab 40 is not pulled to move and the zipper slide is in the fixing status, it will can fasten the pull tab 40 on the slide body 10 through the hooking means 50, so that the pull tab 40 is covered on the spring plate 20 and the connecting element 30. Due to the pull tab 40 fastened on the slide body 10, the pull tab 40 will not be raised upwardly and moved in incautious, thereby to enable the zipper slide to retain in the fixing status. When the pull tab 40 will be pulled to move, it must turn the pull tab 40 or the connecting element 30, and one end of the pull tab 40 will be separated from the slide body 10.

The present invention discloses a main feature for the bottom cover 60 and the gripping block 70 arranged under the slide body 10. The bottom cover 60 is made of a metallic or plastic material. The bottom cover 60 has two fastening holes 61 penetrated from top to bottom thereof. Two rivets 62 respectively passes through the two fastening holes 61 thereby to enable the bottom cover 60 to rivet and assemble on a bottom portion of the slide body 10. Two tracks 63 are defined between of the slide body 10 and the bottom cover 60. The two tracks 63 are penetrated to a front edge and a rear edge of a combination of the slide body 10 and the bottom cover 60 for providing the laces 90 to pass through an inner portion of the combination. Each of the two tracks 63 is of a round shape in its cross section or the other shapes, and the two tracks can be gradually approached to each other from front to rear thereof. A space 64 is positioned between the two tracks. The space 64 is of a wedge shape for receiving the gripping block 70.

The gripping block 70 is made of a metallic or plastic material. The gripping block 70 is of a wedge shape. The gripping block 70 is forward/backward movably arranged in the space 64. The gripping block 70 has an adjusting portion 71 formed at one end thereof, and the adjusting portion 71 is extended out a front edge of the combination of the slide body 10 and the bottom cover 60, so that the user can pull the adjusting portion 71 to make an adjusting action. The gripping block 70 has two gripping surfaces 73 at two sides thereof. The two gripping surfaces 73 are respectively extended into the two tracks 63 thereby to grip the laces 90 passed through in the tracks 63. Each of the two gripping surfaces 73 of the gripping block 70 is of a sawtooth shape. The gripping block 70 has a rectangular sliding slot 72 at a middle portion thereof for providing one rivet 62 to pass through, thereby to guide the gripping block 70 to smoothly move forwardly or backwardly.

Another, an elastic element 74 has two ends respectively abutting against the rivet 62 in the sliding slot 72 and a wall adjacent to the sliding slot 72 of the gripping block 70. The elastic element 74 can push the gripping block 70 to move backwardly, so that the gripping block 70 is elastically positioned in the space 64. The two gripping surfaces 73 formed at two sides of the gripping block 70 respectively extend into the two tracks 63 thereby to grip the laces 90 positioned in the tracks 63.

The structure configuration of FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a still further arrangement in which the zipper slide of the present invention can provide the laces 90 and the zipper tapes of the zipper 80 together on the sports shoe, and the laces 90 and the zipper tapes of the zipper 80 are assembled on an inner and outer portions of the sports shoe, respectively. The zipper slide is assembled on the zipper 80 for controlling the combination or separation of the zipper tapes of the zipper 80. It has an elastic function due to the laces 90 arranged in the tracks 63. The laces 90 are tied and wound on the shoe, and at least two sliding wheels 91 are provided on a predetermined position of the shoe for smoothly adjusting the elasticity of the laces 90 wound on the shoe. It still has the other manners due to the laces 90 tied and wound on the shoe (see FIG. 7).

When the user pulls the adjusting portion 71 by fingers to enable the gripping block 70 to forwardly move, the two gripping surfaces 73 of the gripping block 70 will be separated from the laces 90 to enable the laces 90 to be in loosing status, and afterward it can adjust the elasticity of the laces 90. When finishing the adjustment, loosing the adjusting portion 71, the elastic element 74 can push the gripping block 70 to move backwardly, so that the two gripping surfaces 73 of the gripping block 70 will extend into the tracks 63 to grip the laces 90 to enable the laces 90 to be in fixing status.

As earlier mentioned herein, the zipper slide of the present invention is provided for simultaneously combining/separating the zipper tapes of the zipper 80 and fastening/loosing the laces 90 of the shoe. Furthermore, it doesn't need respectively to operate the zipper and the laces, thus it will obtain some advantages, such as the more time saved and the convenience due to the shoe wore on and taken off.

There has thus been described a new, novel and heretofore unobvious zipper slide which eliminates the aforesaid problem in the prior art. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the above description is only illustrative of specific embodiments and examples of the invention. The invention should therefore cover various modifications and variations made to the herein-described structure and operations of the invention, provided they fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the following appended claims. 

1. A zipper slide adapted to a zipper on a shoe for simultaneously combining/separating two zipper tapes of the zipper and fastening/loosing two laces of the shoe, comprising: a slide body having two guiding grooves providing for the two zipper tapes of the zipper, respectively; a pull tab coupled to the slide body; a bottom cover assembled to a bottom portion of the slide body to define two tracks therebetween and a space positioned between the two tracks; and a gripping block forward/backward movably arranged in the space, the gripping block having two gripping surfaces at two sides thereof, and the two gripping surfaces respectively extending into the two tracks thereby to grip the laces passed through in the tracks.
 2. The zipper slide of claim 1, wherein the bottom cover is assembled to the bottom portion of the slide body by rivets, the gripping block has a sliding slot at a middle portion thereof for providing at least one of the rivets to pass through, an elastic element has two ends respectively abutting against one rivet in the sliding slot and a wall adjacent to the sliding slot, so that the gripping block is elastically positioned in the space.
 3. The zipper slide of claim 1, wherein the two tracks are gradually approached to each other from front to rear thereof.
 4. The zipper slide of claim 1, wherein the gripping block has an adjusting portion formed at one end thereof, and the adjusting portion is extended out the slide body and the bottom cover.
 5. The zipper slide of claim 1, wherein the gripping block is of a wedge shape.
 6. The zipper slide of claim 1, wherein each of the two gripping surfaces of the gripping block is of a sawtooth shape.
 7. The zipper slide of claim 1, further comprising a spring plate arranged on the slide body, the spring plate having a retaining portion extended into the guiding grooves of the slide body, a connecting element connected to on a top portion of the slide body, the connecting element abutting against an inner edge of the spring plate, the pull tab coupled to the connecting element, and a hooking means defined between the slide body and the pull tab for hooking the pull tab on the slide body.
 8. The zipper slide of claim 7, wherein the slide body has an accommodated space for accommodating the spring plate and a through hole for accommodating the retaining portion of the spring plate.
 9. The zipper slide of claim 7, wherein the connecting element has a pivotal shaft at one end thereof, the pivotal shaft is pivotally connected to the top portion of the slide body, and the pivotal shaft abuts against the inner edge of the spring plate.
 10. The zipper slide of claim 9, wherein the connecting element has a first pin hole at another end thereof, the pull tab has a second pin hole at one end thereof, and a pin passes through the first pin hole and the second pin hole, so that the pull tab is pivotally connected to an end portion of the connecting element.
 11. The zipper slide of claim 1, wherein the pull tab has a top surface providing words, patterns or trademarks thereon. 